Attractive opponents spike UH ticket sales

Small crowds were expected for the first three games on the Hawaii football schedule, as the opponents were Division I-AA teams Northern Colorado and Charleston Southern and WAC doormat Utah State. Attendance for the three games, which 16th-ranked UH won by a combined 181-53, averaged just 34,781 (turnstile) and declined with each game.

With Hawaii 7-0 and more attractive opponents on the horizon, more tickets are moving. As of yesterday, 37,000 had been issued for Saturday's game against New Mexico State, and the Nov. 24 game with Boise State is already within 2,500 of a sellout at 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium.

"This weekend is obviously homecoming," UH athletic director Herman Frazier said. "We made some 2-for-1s available to alums as an enticement to come out and see their team.

"Those sales are going brisk," Frazier added. "I think the Boise game has gone sooner because of the opponent and Boise has not lost a conference game since I've been here. Thanksgiving weekend people have family in town."

FULL HOUSES

Tickets are moving for the remaining four home games on the Hawaii football schedule: